Happy New Year from the team at Green Candle Dance Company. It’s 2017 and it’s a big year for us as we turn 30! We’re celebrating throughout 2017 – taking a look back at our performances and projects, and the dancers and participants who have connected with us along the way.

Green Candle Dance Company has constantly evolved throughout our 30 years and we stay relevant by connecting directly with our communities and staying firmly rooted in our belief that everyone has the right to practice, watch and participate in dance.

Join us as we give you a snapshot into the multiplicity of past and present work of Green Candle Dance Company. We will be reflecting on our successes with messages from the people who have contributed to making Green Candle Dance Company what it is today. You will see our archive memories and messages from Green Candle friends on social media with the hashtag #30greenmemories. In addition we will have a whole host of activities and a big celebratory event in September. Join us in celebrating our birthday with the hashtag #30greencandles

We look forward to celebrating with you!

~ The Green Candle Team ~

An opportunity to gain valuable experience within a leading community dance company working with children, young people and older adults.

At Green Candle Dance Company we believe in providing people new to the field or looking to enhance their skills with opportunities to develop and experience necessary for delivering high quality dance activities in the community.

We are currently looking for two participation and communications volunteers to join our team for the spring term 2017. This is a unique chance for artists to gain practical learning and leadership skills in the community arts. We are seeking enthusiastic and motivated individuals who can assist in the delivery of weekly sessions for a variety of groups, and support the office with communications and general administrative support.

These two new roles are suitable for those interested in developing skills working with children and young people, older people and those with dementia. Candidates will assist classes led by the Green Candle team at our home in Bethnal Green as well as a in a variety of settings in the community, including care homes, day centres, nursing homes and schools. We are looking for applications from candidates who have an interest in both community and education settings. Additionally we will be running a dance photography project in spring 2017 and therefore one of the successful applicants will have previous experience in digital photography.

Both candidates will need to be available for two days a week between Tuesday and Friday consistently throughout the spring term, which runs from week commencing 9^th January to end of March 2017 (specific dates will be confirmed nearer the time).

The opportunity to assist will offer the successful candidates the chance to experience dance delivery in a variety of contexts. Due to the nature of the environment where our dance sessions take place, we expect the candidates to be open-minded and have a warm friendly persona. Candidates must hold a current enhanced DBS certificate. This is an unpaid position; however, the Company will cover travel expenses within London.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your reason for applying to vicki@greencandledance.com or call 0207 739 7722 for more information.

Application deadline: 12pm Thursday 8^th December 2016

Interviews: Thursday 15^th December 2016 by invitation only at Oxford House, Bethnal Green.

An opportunity to gain valuable experience within a leading community dance company working with children, young people and older adults.

Green Candle Dance Company is currently looking for a new participation and communications volunteer to join our team for the autumn term. We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated individual who can assist artists in the delivery of weekly sessions for a variety of groups, and support the office with communications and general administrative support.

Candidates will need to be able to offer consistent time for two days a week between Tuesday and Friday over the autumn term, which runs from week commencing 13^th September to mid-December (specific dates will be confirmed nearer the time).

The opportunity to assist will offer the successful candidate the chance to experience dance delivery in a variety of contexts, including working with people with dementia and their carers. Due to the nature of the environment where our dance sessions take place, we expect the candidates to be open-minded and have a warm friendly persona. This is a unique chance to gain practical learning and leadership skills in the community arts.

Candidates must be DBS checked.
This is an unpaid position; however, the Company will cover travel expenses within London.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your reason for applying to vicki@greencandledance.com or call 0207 739 7722 for more information.

Application deadline 12pm, Monday 22nd August 2016

Interviews will be by invitation only and will take place during the week commencing 5^th September 2016 at Oxford House, Bethnal Green, E2 6HG.

Sagacity! London’s unique & inspiring annual festival celebrating older people dancing

29th & 30th July 2016

Sagacity! is Green Candle Dance Company’s annual festival celebrating older people dancing. This wonderfully vibrant event takes place in Bethnal Green and brings older people together from across London to share in the artistic and creative opportunity to dance. The annual festival includes one day devoted to an array of energising and uplifting open dance workshops and the second day is a platform for older people’s dance groups and companies from around London to perform in the theatre at Oxford House.

Click here to see the full event timetable and how to book

‘It was wonderful to see so many groups in one place …and doing such diverse things. An enjoyable experience and a great advert for all the exciting projects for older people.’  Audience member, Sagacity! 2015

Sagacity! is the only annual dance festival for older people. Now in its fourth year, Sagacity! 2016 will take place on 29th and 30th July and will be a unique and inspiring occasion celebrating the joy of dancing and showcasing performances by many of London’s best and most creative older people’s dance groups.

‘Great platform for dance for older people – a real joy for our group to be part of and share with other members of the dance community.’ Performer, Sagacity! 2015

Sagacity! 2016 is supported by Tower Hamlets Council

An opportunity to gain valuable experience within a leading community dance company working with children, young people and older adults.

Green Candle Dance Company is currently looking for two enthusiastic and motivated individuals who can assist artists in the delivery of weekly sessions for a variety of groups, and support the office with communications, such as social media, website updates and general administrative support.

Candidates will need to be able to offer consistent time on Tuesdays and Fridays over the summer term, which runs from mid–April to mid-July.

The opportunity to assist will offer the successful candidates the chance to experience dance delivery in a variety of contexts. Due to the nature of the environment where our dance sessions take place, we expect the candidates to be open-minded and have a warm friendly persona. Candidates must be DBS checked.

This is a unique chance to gain practical learning and leadership skills in the community arts.

This is an unpaid position; however, the Company will cover travel expenses within London.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your reason for applying to vicki@greencandledance.com or call 0207 739 7722 for more information.

Application deadline Monday 21st March 2016, 5pm                                                    

Interviews will be by invitation only and will take place on Monday 4th or Tuesday 5th April 2016 at Oxford House, Bethnal Green.

A two day introductory professional development workshop:
Leading Dance with Older People and Dance and Dementia

12^th & 13^th April 2016

NEW for 2016 Green Candle Dance Company are pleased to announce the addition of a second day to the successful Moving into Maturity course for those interested in dance for dementia.

Moving into Maturity is a specially designed introductory professional development course for people who are working or intending to work with older people. Suitable for professional dance artists, health care professionals and students – this course will introduce you to some of the key skills needed to lead dance sessions, both seated and standing, with older people and people with dementia. Attendees are welcome to take part in the two days or join us for one of the days – depending on their interests.

Both days will include the unique opportunity to share in the knowledge and experience of participants that regularly take part in dance activities with Green Candle – the Green Candle Senior Dancers on day one, and the participants of Remember to Dance programme for people with early- to mid-stage dementia and their companions and carers on day two. This session will be accompanied by live music.

When: 12 and 13 April 2016, 10am-4.30pm
Where: Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London E2 6HG
Fees: One day – £70 / £50 concession; Two days – £110 / £85 concession (students, unemployed, 60+)

Day one: Leading Dance with Older People
Tuesday 12 April 2016

Led by Fergus Early, participants will take part in practical sessions for older people as delivered by Green Candle (standing and seated), including warm ups, stretching, a choreographed sequence and cool downs. A wide range of discussion about ageing and the empowerment of older people will be facilitated. Areas covered on day one will include:

• establishing the valuable contribution to society of older people and the value of dance to older people
• acquainting participants with the structure and content of sessions for both active and more frail older people as practised by Green Candle
• an opportunity for participants to share their own knowledge and experience of working with older people

Day two: Dance and Dementia
Wednesday 13 April 2016

The special addition of our second day will address Dementia Awareness led by experts from East London NHS Foundation Trust – an Occupational Therapist specialising in dementia care and a Community Mental Health Nurse. In addition Fergus Early, will focus on the specific application of dance sessions for people living with dementia and will include a short session with some participants of Green Candle’s Remember to Dance programme. Areas covered on day two will include:

• the different forms and variables of dementia, how they are presented and their symptoms
• ways of communicating with people with dementia to create a positive relationship between you and the participant
• practical examples of the positive impact of Remember to Dance as evidenced in the Sidney De Haan research study
• the benefits of dance activities that go beyond pleasant recreation

To find out further details and book a place contact:
Community and Education Manager, Vicki Busfield: vicki@greencandledance.com, Tel: 0207 739 7722

Moving into Maturity is an excellent introduction to Green Candle’s Diploma Course ‘Leading Dance with Older People’ accredited at Level 3 and running for 6 weekends between September 2016 – March 2017

On Friday 27th of November in the Oxford House Theatre, Green Candle held its Winter Gala 2015 with a full house of over 100 people in the audience! Parents, friends and supporting funders were among the attendees,  celebrating a range of performances by primary schools, youth groups and older people.

For those who missed out on this great performance, here’s a sneak peak of some photos taken by Tracey Fahy.